TV Review – Lunatics Season One

TL;DR – This is a show that wildly oscillates from being deeply offensive to just plain dull  

Score – 1 out of 5 stars

Lunatics Season One. Image Credit: Netflix.

Review

Before we get into this review, let me take you back 14 years ago to 2005, this was when We Can Be Heroes first aired down here in Australia. It was a revolutionary comedy for many, as it satirised people that you thought you all knew. Also having one actor play multiple different parts was a novel concept … at the time. Chris Lilley won multiple awards for the show and it put him in the limelight which he followed up with the equally successful Summer Heights High two years later. Why am I opening with this, well I wanted to give it a bit of history for non-Australian readers, and I wanted to give a bit of context before we fall into the rubbish that is this series.

So to set the scene, Lunatics is based around the lives of several characters (all played by Lilley). There is Jana a lesbian pet psychic based in South Africa, Gavin a brat that somehow going to be an Earl, Joyce a former adult movie star, Keith a long time retail worker that is opening his own store, Becky a tall twin starting her first day at an American college, and Quentin a real-estate agent from the Gold Coast. The series explores their lives as they all move into their next stages of life. Now from here, we will be looking at the season as a whole, so there will be some [SPOILERS] ahead.

Continue reading

TV Review – Brooklyn Nine-Nine: The Bimbo

TL;DR – A fun episode that lets us have some great character moments and shift the dynamics of the cast a little

Score – 4 out of 5 stars

Brooklyn Nine-Nine: The Bimbo. Image Credit: NBC.

Review

As we continue along this surprise extra season of Brooklyn Nine-Nine, we have had big episodes, we have had funny episodes, we have had dramatic episodes. Well, today what we get is a smaller affair, but it takes a moment to use that contained nature to develop relationships more.

So to set the scene, Jake (Andy Samberg) arrives late to the briefing and gets punished in the cruellest way, okay that is just the cold open. We actually start with Keven (Marc Evan Jackson) leaving Holt’s (Andre Braugher) office and them sharing a public handshake before leaving. However, Kevin is not going straight to work because he needs to have a quiet word with Jake. For you see, a number of important coins had gone missing in the office that he works in, and he can’t go straight to Holt because Holt can become a bit out of place when there is a case where Kevin is involved. So they plan to do the case in secret, and that goes about as well as you can expect. Now from here, we will be looking at the episode as a whole, so there will be some [SPOILERS] ahead.

Continue reading

TV Review – Brooklyn Nine-Nine: Casecation

TL;DR – A heartfelt story of love … in a hospital room … while they wait for a comatose patent to wake up   

Score – 4 out of 5 stars

Brooklyn Nine-Nine: Casecation. Image Credit: NBC Studios.

Review

One of Brooklyn Nine-Nine’s strengths has always been its ability to juggle the comedy and drama. This is not an easy task as it can be a tightrope trying to balance everything without it coming off as half-assed. This week we get an episode that gets that balance right as it jumps from fun to real serious, real quick.

So to set the scene, we open in a hospital as Amy (Melissa Fumero) comes to meet Jake (Andy Samberg), thankfully he is not here on medical business but for the police as there is a mob boss that survived a hit and is now in a coma. The hope is that if Jake is there when he wakes up then the mob boss will give them the info they could use. However, Jake has an ulterior motive, because there is no idea when he will wake up, so he and Amy could share some time alone as it is there anniversary and with their work schedule this is the best chance they have. A case vacation or indeed a Casecation. Which is fine until a topic comes up that neither of them were prepared to hear the other’s response. Now from here, we will be looking at the episode as a whole, so there will be some [SPOILERS] ahead.

Continue reading

TV Review – Brooklyn Nine-Nine: The Therapist

TL;DR – It take a moment amongst all the shenanigans to really explore some of the characters.

Score – 4 out of 5 stars

Brooklyn Nine-Nine: The Therapist. Image Credit: NBC Studios.

Review

There is a certain joy that comes with seeing one of your favourite shows come back from the brink, but there is also a little hesitation. Will they be able to capture that magic again? Will they evolve as a show or will they keep everything the same to keep the people who push for the reinstatement happy. Well, today we get to see a character have a major realisation about their past.   

So to set the scene, Charles (Joe Lo Truglio) comes to Jake (Andy Samberg) with a juicy potential murder. A Dr Tate (David Paymer) has come to them with a concern about some of his patients, for you see a husband had called him out of the blue and acted out of character and then they did not turn up to couples counselling. Meanwhile, a parcel was mailed to Amy (Melissa Fumero) that was clearly meant for Terry (Terry Crews) and Captain Holt (Andre Braugher) invited Rosa (Stephanie Beatriz) and her new girlfriend to dinner only to get a surprising rejection. Now from here, we will be looking at the episode as a whole, so there will be some [SPOILERS] ahead

Continue reading

TV Review – Brooklyn Nine-Nine: He Said, She Said

TL;DR Brooklyn Nine-Nine delves into the Me Too era in an episode that shows that B99’s consistent strength in drama still shines.

Score – 4.5 out of 5 stars

Brooklyn Nine-Nine: He Said, She Said. Image Credit: NBC.

Review

Over the last few years, we have seen an outpouring of discussion from a number of industries about the toxic workplaces that exist, especially for women. We have seen big-name Hollywood producers, politicians, comedians, and members of finance be called to account for their behaviour, and the Me Too movements has spread across the world and into every industry. This is such an important issue that when you first hear that a comedy show is going to tackle the issue you take pause because this is not an issue that you should be making light of. However, when you hear that show is Brooklyn Nine-Nine you give it a pass because B99 has shown in the past it is able and willing to tackle important issues like this.

So to set the scene, in the morning briefing the team find out that there has been an investment banker admitted to hospital with a broken penis, which leads to an array of amusing wonderings as to which drug-fuelled shenanigans lead to such an injury. Only for them to then find out that it was alleged that he tried to attack a colleague only for her to protect herself from assault with his golf club. Amy (Melissa Fumero) and Jake (Andy Samberg) are put on the case and so they interview both sides. Seth (Jonathan Chase) has no idea why she would do such a thing, maybe she’s just crazy. Well Kari (Briga Heelan) has a very good idea why it happened, but there is no evidence creating a ‘he said, she said’ situation. Meanwhile, Captain Holt (Andre Braugher) gets the news he has been dreading the Disco Stranger (Richard Finkelstein), his first big collar, has died and now he has to evaluate what that means for his life. Now from here, we will be looking at the episode as a whole, so there will be some [SPOILERS] ahead.    

Continue reading

TV Review – Brooklyn Nine-Nine: A Tale of Two Bandits

TL;DR – One will now and always will cherish the yearly Doug Judy updates on Brooklyn Nine-Nine

Score – 4 out of 5 stars

Brooklyn Nine-Nine: A Tale of Two Bandits. Image Credit: NBC.

Review

This week we get the first major change of the season with a new opening titles sequence, which you had to expect was coming after last week’s Four Movements. However, as much as things change it is nice as we continue throughout the season that it is time to return to some old friends, and also a time to fight for what is yours.

So to set the scene, Jake (Andy Samberg) is working when Terry (Terry Crews) confronts him with the news that Doug Judy (Craig Robinson) has been stealing cars again. Aghast Jake backs up his buddy because he knows that Doug has gone clean, though he has said that multiple times in the past. To straighten this all out Terry gets in contact with Judy only to find out that tragically he has passed away. So who could be stealing cars with Doug’s MO when Doug is dead? As well as that, the rest of the gang arrive at their local bar only to find it is filled with …. Gasp … Firefighters. Now from here, we will be looking at the episode as a whole, so there will be some [SPOILERS] ahead.

Continue reading

TV Review – Brooklyn Nine-Nine: Four Movements

TL;DR – Today is a goodbye, but then it also was the perfect goodbye to have

Score – 4.5 out of 5 stars

Brooklyn Nine-Nine: Four Movements. Image Credit: NBC.

Review

The last-minute renewal of Brooklyn Nine-Nine was both a joy, but it was also tinged with a little bit of sadness. This is that even though B99 got a half and then a full season pick up, it was also announced that Chelsea Peretti would be leaving the show. Well, that time has come, but with all things Gina, it was a joy to watch.

So to set the scene, at the end of The Tattler Jake (Andy Samberg) had a heart to heart with Gina (Chelsea Peretti) about where she saw her future, and was she being held back at the 99? Well at the start of Four Movements we get to hear her answer as she announces to the whole team that she is leaving the 99 and then she hands in her two-week notice with a four-part interpretive dance movement. Now from here, we will be looking at the episode as a whole, so there will be some [SPOILERS] ahead.

Continue reading

TV Review – The Good Place: Pandemonium & Season Three

TL;DR – We come full circle as we explore what happens when Eleanor has to take over for Michael, oh and then the show kicks you right in the feels.   

Score – 4.5 out of 5 stars

The Good Place: Pandemonium. Image Credit: NBC.

Today we have reached the end of The Good Place’s third season, and what a ride it has been. We have been from Australia to The Good Place to the Interdimensional Hole of Pancakes, and more. Throughout that time we have discovered the source of the problem plaguing the afterlife and watched as people continued to grow and develop even after they are dead. With that in mind today we will be looking at both the season finale Pandemonium and also an overview of the season as a whole.   

So to set the scene, in last week’s Chidi Sees the Time-Knife, The Judge (Maya Rudolph) set out the rules that would be used to govern this new experiments, and of course both Shawn (Marc Evan Jackson) and Michael (Ted Danson) were not happy, which probably means that it is a fair system. But we all know that The Bad Place does not play fair as they rattle Michael so much that Eleanor (Kristen Bell) has to step in a pretend to be the architect. However, as we soon find out, that is not the only way The Bad Place is playing dirty, because they are here to torture, and that is what they are going to do. Now we will be looking at the episode as a whole, so there will be [SPOILERS] ahead.  

Continue reading

TV Review – Brooklyn Nine-Nine: The Tattler

TL;DR – We get a walk down memory lane and a look to the future.

Score – 4 out of 5 stars

Brooklyn Nine-Nine: The Tattler. Image Credit: NBC.

Review

As the season of Brooklyn Nine-Nine continues, we get a blast into the past as the show goes back to the 1990s, which a bit different to last week’s dive into the 1980s. We also continue the theme of interweaving three narratives throughout the story which some work and some don’t quite get there.

So to set the scene, Jake (Andy Samberg) and Gina (Chelsea Peretti) are super excited because it is their 20-year high school reunion time. It was the time of long hair, just one earring, and denim … so much denim. It is also a little bit of a struggle for Jake because his final year of high school was tough as the whole school thought he has tattled on the most popular kid in the school, gaining him the nickname ‘The Tattler.’ But it’s been 20 years surely people will forget, well as they and Amy (Melissa Fumero) arrive one thing is clear, nobody forgets. Now from here, we will be looking at the episode as a whole, so there will be some [SPOILERS] ahead.

Continue reading

TV Review – The Good Place: Chidi Sees the Time-Knife

TL;DR – With Time-Knife we get the big major push for the rest of the season and it is an interesting one indeed.

Score – 4 out of 5 stars

he Good Place: Chidi Sees the Time-Knife. Image Credit: NBC.

Review

For the back half of The Good Place’s third season, we have jumped from Australia and have started ricocheting around the afterlife. Well in today’s episode we get to visit the last name dropped location in the series so far The Interdimensional Hole of Pancakes.

So to set the scene, during last week’s Book of Doug’s Michael (Ted Danson) and the gang – Janet (D’Arcy Carden), Eleanor (Kristen Bell), Chidi (William Jackson Harper), Tahani (Jameela Jamil), and Jason (Manny Jacinto) discover what is really stopping people entering The Good Place. It is not spies in the Accounting Department, it is that the world of 2019 is significantly more difficult to navigate and even buying a single tomato is enough points to send you to The Bad Place. With this information in mind, Michael calls a meeting with The Judge (Maya Rudolph) in The Interdimensional Hole of Pancakes, where she is weakest, to discuss what it is that they can do about it. Now we will be looking at the episode as a whole so there will be [SPOILERS] ahead.

Continue reading